|
|
HOME ABOUT US DIARY LOST SOULS MESSAGE BOARD CONTACT LIST BERLIN AIRLIFT REUNIONS THE WEATHER 6TH AERIAL PORT HERITAGE CENTRE SITES GHOSTS CROFT SCOTIA NORTH SEALAND STRETTON POTTED HISTORY ATTACHED UNITS MEMBERS PAGE PX SHOP US ARMY LINKS BOB HOPE ARCHIVE |
|
|
BURTONWOOD |
Updated 2nd February 2008 |
|
|
ASSOCIATION |
|
|
Pete Boardman
Pete was born on 25
August 1937 and he attained his 70th birthday last August.
I had the pleasure of meeting Pete on the day the tall control
tower at Burtonwood was demolished by Fred Dibner, the famous demolition
expert and TV personality, on 17 April 1988, almost 20 years ago. The ever young Pete
told me about his memories of Burtonwood as a child and how his aunt had
married a GI and gone off to the US to live.
He had a very soft spot for Burtonwood in his heart and also for
the American people. Pete was
an expert photographer and was long time chairman of the Warrington
Photographic Society. His skills were put to use in creating the story of RAF
Burtonwood and he told it to dozens of local groups and organisations with
absolute passion and totally intermixed with his personal memories and
emotions; he brought Burtonwood to life and made us all keep the memory
alive. After the sad passing
of Dave Goulden, Pete somewhat reluctantly stepped into Dave’s shoes and
became UK President of the RAF Burtonwood Association steering us through
discussions with Warrington Corporation and Gulliver’s World culminating
in our current Heritage Centre and promise of a newer and larger permanent
home for the Association. Pete loved to travel
to the USA and I had the pleasure of accompanying him on some trips.
His last was to Shreveport when the reunion was cancelled at the
last minute due to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina being in the hotel. We
already had our tickets so we joined a small group of American members and
took part in the dedication of the RAF Burtonwood Association Memorial at
the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale AFB.
This is to be re-dedicated at out 2008 reunion this October.
Being a small group we had time to have fun and travel. Pete stood
on the stage at the Louisiana Hay-Ride theatre where his idol, Elvis
Presley gave his first public performance.
My abiding memory of Pete is him performing his normal antics in
Joe’s Crab Shack riding a hobby horse around the restaurant when we
pretended it was his birthday. On
the same day the girls at Hooters gave him the birthday treatment and he
was in his element. Pete always had a
smile on his face and always brought a smile to those around him with
quick wit, great personality and outstanding friendship and camaraderie. He may not be with us
any more but his memory, achievements and sense of fun will never be
forgotten. Aldon Ferguson
|
|
Feedback or items for submission for the web site please email:
|
|
The contents on this site are the property of the Burtonwood Association. You are welcome to download material provided it is not used elsewhere without prior permission |
